<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" > <channel> <title> Comments on: Land of the Free: America in Dystopian and Post-Apocalyptic YA Fiction </title> <atom:link href="https://girlsincapes.com/2013/07/15/america-ya-part1/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <link>https://girlsincapes.com/2013/07/15/america-ya-part1/</link> <description>Discover diverse new worlds in entertainment</description> <lastBuildDate>Mon, 12 Jan 2015 15:01:02 +0000</lastBuildDate> <sy:updatePeriod> hourly </sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency> 1 </sy:updateFrequency> <generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2</generator> <item> <title> By: REVIEW: The Walled City by Ryan Graudin | Girls in Capes </title> <link>https://girlsincapes.com/2013/07/15/america-ya-part1/#comment-701</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[REVIEW: The Walled City by Ryan Graudin | Girls in Capes]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 12 Jan 2015 15:01:02 +0000</pubDate> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://girlsincapes.com/?p=906#comment-701</guid> <description><![CDATA[[…] For more on dark young adult books, find out what Lorraine has to say on the toxic archetypes of YA lit or find her series on America in young adult dystopian novels. […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>[…] For more on dark young adult books, find out what Lorraine has to say on the toxic archetypes of YA lit or find her series on America in young adult dystopian novels. […]</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title> By: Update from “The War Room” | Weaving and Musings of Aelathia </title> <link>https://girlsincapes.com/2013/07/15/america-ya-part1/#comment-429</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Update from “The War Room” | Weaving and Musings of Aelathia]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 31 Oct 2013 19:34:59 +0000</pubDate> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://girlsincapes.com/?p=906#comment-429</guid> <description><![CDATA[[…] excellent article by Lorraine Franqui about dystopian apocalyptic futures in YA literature over at https://girlsincapes.com/2013/07/15/america-ya-part1/ […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>[…] excellent article by Lorraine Franqui about dystopian apocalyptic futures in YA literature over at <a href="https://girlsincapes.com/2013/07/15/america-ya-part1/" rel="ugc">https://girlsincapes.com/2013/07/15/america-ya-part1/</a> […]</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title> By: Joshua P. Smith </title> <link>https://girlsincapes.com/2013/07/15/america-ya-part1/#comment-430</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Joshua P. Smith]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 31 Oct 2013 19:32:00 +0000</pubDate> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://girlsincapes.com/?p=906#comment-430</guid> <description><![CDATA[Lorraine, thanks so much for this article! I find it fascinating that so much of literature and movies dealing with post-apocalyptic and dystopian societies do address issues of current day society. The question is why and what issues? I'm keeping that in mind as I prepare to write my next novel, which happens to be in this genre. Also, you pointed me to some excellent books to read in the genre, and reminded me of a few I had forgotten. Thank you!]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Lorraine, thanks so much for this article! I find it fascinating that so much of literature and movies dealing with post-apocalyptic and dystopian societies do address issues of current day society. The question is why and what issues? I’m keeping that in mind as I prepare to write my next novel, which happens to be in this genre. Also, you pointed me to some excellent books to read in the genre, and reminded me of a few I had forgotten. Thank you!</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title> By: readthiseatthat </title> <link>https://girlsincapes.com/2013/07/15/america-ya-part1/#comment-322</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[readthiseatthat]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Tue, 16 Jul 2013 15:09:00 +0000</pubDate> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://girlsincapes.com/?p=906#comment-322</guid> <description><![CDATA[In reply to <a href="https://girlsincapes.com/2013/07/15/america-ya-part1/#comment-321">Feliza</a>. Excellent points, Feliza. I can't believe I missed the colonialism in my gut reaction against the overtones of capitalism. It is absolutely exploitative colonialism. I like your point that the excesses of the capital are representation of how normative American society can be perceived by other nations (and by Americans who do not fit in the white middle class suburban stereotype). I think that I got hung up on the use of the word capitalism, and probably should have considered that capitalism can take forms other than laissez faire. I assumed that the strong economic power of the central government (with its control over agriculture and the media complete) meant that there was some level of distribution of goods in the same way that Orphan Master's Son portrayed the wealth of people in North Korea. As in, the closer one is to the leader, the more the leader doles to you. To what extent anyone has any capitalistic ventures outside of the sphere of government projects, I would need to reread the long-winded third volume. I'm not convinced it's there. But I'm totally on board with colonialism as the source of the evil in the world of Panem. (Even if I don't subscribe to mercantilism being a form of capitalism.) Thanks for the clarification!]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In reply to <a href="https://girlsincapes.com/2013/07/15/america-ya-part1/#comment-321">Feliza</a>.</p> <p>Excellent points, Feliza. I can’t believe I missed the colonialism in my gut reaction against the overtones of capitalism. It is absolutely exploitative colonialism.</p> <p>I like your point that the excesses of the capital are representation of how normative American society can be perceived by other nations (and by Americans who do not fit in the white middle class suburban stereotype).</p> <p>I think that I got hung up on the use of the word capitalism, and probably should have considered that capitalism can take forms other than laissez faire. I assumed that the strong economic power of the central government (with its control over agriculture and the media complete) meant that there was some level of distribution of goods in the same way that Orphan Master’s Son portrayed the wealth of people in North Korea. As in, the closer one is to the leader, the more the leader doles to you. To what extent anyone has any capitalistic ventures outside of the sphere of government projects, I would need to reread the long-winded third volume. I’m not convinced it’s there.</p> <p>But I’m totally on board with colonialism as the source of the evil in the world of Panem. (Even if I don’t subscribe to mercantilism being a form of capitalism.) Thanks for the clarification!</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title> By: Feliza </title> <link>https://girlsincapes.com/2013/07/15/america-ya-part1/#comment-321</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Feliza]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Tue, 16 Jul 2013 14:42:00 +0000</pubDate> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://girlsincapes.com/?p=906#comment-321</guid> <description><![CDATA[In reply to <a href="https://girlsincapes.com/2013/07/15/america-ya-part1/#comment-319">readthiseatthat</a>. I swear I'm not always a dissenter! But without knowing Lorraine's exact take on the issue, I just want to throw in and say that my interpretation of capitalism in THG is more closely related to vilifying capitalism when combined with politics. It's explicitly stated in the book that the Hunger Games are literally a "punishment" for the twelve districts trying to rise and overthrow the Capitol. That itself made it very clear that there was no attempt by the government for "equitable distribution of resources." The Capitol government essentially conquered the districts, stripped its peoples of their rights, freedoms, and even their culture, and took the districts' resources - which the people are practically enslaved to obtain - and took the most and the best for itself while failing or refusing to ensure that the people of the districts were provided for. This is a familiar story, but not to many Americans. When I read The Hunger Games, the only thing I liked about it was the universe it was set in, because it's a direct reflection of what irresponsible American capitalism and historic Western colonialism currently does or has done in the past to colonized, often minority, groups. There is literally a song that describes cultural colonialism perfectly from a musical group in the country my dad is from (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWAYt2QtLfw). One part of the theory of colonialism is that the group doing the colonizing does it "for their own good," because the colonized group is viewed as too unintelligent, inadequate, inept, etc. to take care of itself, despite evidence to the contrary. The Capitol's continued hold and its intentional "punishment" of the colonized groups make it very clear, at least in my mind, that it's not just about capitalism, but also about colonialism motivated by capitalism. Not to mention that Capitol itself - filled with flashy rich people with no idea about the rest of the world - is a perfect stand-in for America itself, which to any outside viewer is the same way.]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In reply to <a href="https://girlsincapes.com/2013/07/15/america-ya-part1/#comment-319">readthiseatthat</a>.</p> <p>I swear I’m not always a dissenter! But without knowing Lorraine’s exact take on the issue, I just want to throw in and say that my interpretation of capitalism in THG is more closely related to vilifying capitalism when combined with politics.</p> <p>It’s explicitly stated in the book that the Hunger Games are literally a “punishment” for the twelve districts trying to rise and overthrow the Capitol. That itself made it very clear that there was no attempt by the government for “equitable distribution of resources.” The Capitol government essentially conquered the districts, stripped its peoples of their rights, freedoms, and even their culture, and took the districts’ resources – which the people are practically enslaved to obtain – and took the most and the best for itself while failing or refusing to ensure that the people of the districts were provided for.<br /> This is a familiar story, but not to many Americans.</p> <p>When I read The Hunger Games, the only thing I liked about it was the universe it was set in, because it’s a direct reflection of what irresponsible American capitalism and historic Western colonialism currently does or has done in the past to colonized, often minority, groups. There is literally a song that describes cultural colonialism perfectly from a musical group in the country my dad is from (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWAYt2QtLfw" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWAYt2QtLfw</a>). One part of the theory of colonialism is that the group doing the colonizing does it “for their own good,” because the colonized group is viewed as too unintelligent, inadequate, inept, etc. to take care of itself, despite evidence to the contrary. </p> <p>The Capitol’s continued hold and its intentional “punishment” of the colonized groups make it very clear, at least in my mind, that it’s not just about capitalism, but also about colonialism motivated by capitalism. Not to mention that Capitol itself – filled with flashy rich people with no idea about the rest of the world – is a perfect stand-in for America itself, which to any outside viewer is the same way.</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title> By: readthiseatthat </title> <link>https://girlsincapes.com/2013/07/15/america-ya-part1/#comment-319</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[readthiseatthat]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Tue, 16 Jul 2013 03:23:00 +0000</pubDate> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://girlsincapes.com/?p=906#comment-319</guid> <description><![CDATA[I set out to write a one sentence response, and I ended up writing a whole essay about one sentence in your article. I feel as though this happens whenever I read anything on Girls In Capes! (At least I didn't have enough to make a separate blog post this time! :-) ) -Susan, with apologies for being so long-winded I've been thinking about what you said about the Hunger Games for a few minutes now because I had never considered that Hunger Games had anything to do with capitalism. I am guessing you're drawing that from the sybaritic society of the capital since the rest of the series seems to uphold capitalism. I'm not entirely convinced even the capital is a portrayal of capitalism taken to the extreme--the name of the country comes from Juvenal's complaints that people who used to have ambition and play a role in politics have stopped caring about the true issues in Rome, and instead are letting their votes be bought by politicians' gifts of panem et circenses. If the government is being true to Juvenal, the people of the capital are happy not to strive for their own things, but to be fed and amused by the government. I thought what made Panem so dystopian is the level of control the government has over the production of each district, the general food supply, and people's right to expression. Katniss, as we meet her in book 1, would thrive in a capitalist society because she has such skill in hunting. One of her problems is that her hunting is constrained by the laws the government has imposed. Rather than vilify capitalism and question its role in American society, Hunger Games and a lot of dystopian YA books I've read seem to uphold capitalism by portraying attempts at equitable distribution of resources as always being part of a corrupt society. Panem comes to exist because rising sea levels dramatically altered the geography of North America and destroyed preexisting industry and farms (I think. I read these books years ago.). Instead of people exploiting new regions in capitalistic ventures, didn't the surviving people turn to a strong central government with vaguely communist goals of providing for everyone? It's possible that communism=danger is just an artifact from the dystopian classics of the 1930s-1950s (as in, all readers can recognize a dystopia if it follows the form of older ones), but it's far more likely that modern dystopian YA is showing that Americans are still extremely anxious about even whiffs of socialism. Now, the question raised by this becomes, to what extent is this anxiety uniquely American? If you look at post-apocalyptic manga, does it seem like Japan has the same tendency to portray socialist projects as being a sign of a sick nation? You summarized so many possibilities for interesting discussion, Lorraine, that I'm curious to see where the rest of your series will go, and whether you will answer the questions you raised about why all the dystopia we're seeing is set in America. Technology, beauty culture, etc. seem global to me. Is the real societal problem American dystopian YA is revealing simply that Americans have no global awareness?]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I set out to write a one sentence response, and I ended up writing a whole essay about one sentence in your article. I feel as though this happens whenever I read anything on Girls In Capes! (At least I didn’t have enough to make a separate blog post this time! :-) )</p> <p>-Susan, with apologies for being so long-winded</p> <p>I’ve been thinking about what you said about the Hunger Games for a few minutes now because I had never considered that Hunger Games had anything to do with capitalism. I am guessing you’re drawing that from the sybaritic society of the capital since the rest of the series seems to uphold capitalism.</p> <p>I’m not entirely convinced even the capital is a portrayal of capitalism taken to the extreme–the name of the country comes from Juvenal’s complaints that people who used to have ambition and play a role in politics have stopped caring about the true issues in Rome, and instead are letting their votes be bought by politicians’ gifts of panem et circenses. If the government is being true to Juvenal, the people of the capital are happy not to strive for their own things, but to be fed and amused by the government.</p> <p>I thought what made Panem so dystopian is the level of control the government has over the production of each district, the general food supply, and people’s right to expression. Katniss, as we meet her in book 1, would thrive in a capitalist society because she has such skill in hunting. One of her problems is that her hunting is constrained by the laws the government has imposed.</p> <p>Rather than vilify capitalism and question its role in American society, Hunger Games and a lot of dystopian YA books I’ve read seem to uphold capitalism by portraying attempts at equitable distribution of resources as always being part of a corrupt society. Panem comes to exist because rising sea levels dramatically altered the geography of North America and destroyed preexisting industry and farms (I think. I read these books years ago.). Instead of people exploiting new regions in capitalistic ventures, didn’t the surviving people turn to a strong central government with vaguely communist goals of providing for everyone?</p> <p>It’s possible that communism=danger is just an artifact from the dystopian classics of the 1930s-1950s (as in, all readers can recognize a dystopia if it follows the form of older ones), but it’s far more likely that modern dystopian YA is showing that Americans are still extremely anxious about even whiffs of socialism. Now, the question raised by this becomes, to what extent is this anxiety uniquely American? If you look at post-apocalyptic manga, does it seem like Japan has the same tendency to portray socialist projects as being a sign of a sick nation?</p> <p>You summarized so many possibilities for interesting discussion, Lorraine, that I’m curious to see where the rest of your series will go, and whether you will answer the questions you raised about why all the dystopia we’re seeing is set in America. Technology, beauty culture, etc. seem global to me. Is the real societal problem American dystopian YA is revealing simply that Americans have no global awareness?</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> </channel> </rss>